title: Management of pleural drains.
abstract: This article is the eighth in our 'Care is Critical' series on complex interventions nurses have to manage in acute general wards and in the community. This article looks at the management of pleural drains and gives an overview of the relevant anatomy and physiology. Some of the conditions that may result in a chest tube being inserted are described and the nursing care discussed.
authors.affiliation: Southend Hospital, Bristol.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McMahon-Parkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage / Q000451:nursing; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000628:therapy; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy; D012119:Respiration